JP7686544B2 - Gas Shut-Off Valve - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gas shutoff valve that shuts off the flow of gas in the gas supply path of a gas appliance when the appliance is tilted to a specified position.

Conventionally, some gas appliances equipped with a combustion device such as a burner have an internal gas shutoff valve to cut off the supply of gas to the combustion device in the event of the device falling over, etc. A known gas shutoff valve of this type is one that is provided in a valve housing disposed in a gas supply path, and that has a gas inlet chamber, a gas outlet chamber, a valve hole that connects the internal spaces of these chambers, and a shutoff mechanism that cuts off the flow of gas through the valve hole (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The shutoff mechanism of the gas shutoff valve in Patent Document 1 has a base, a movable element that is placed on the base and moves according to the inclination of the gas appliance's position, and a valve body that is placed on the movable element and moves from an open position that opens the valve hole to a closed position that closes the valve hole according to the movement of the movable element. In this shutoff mechanism, when the gas appliance is tilted due to falling over, etc., the movable element moves according to the inclination, and the valve hole is closed by the valve body that moves in response to the movable element's movement, cutting off the flow of gas.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-73172

However, fine foreign matter such as sand grains can enter the gas supply path from the supply gas piping. In some cases, the foreign matter can reach the inside of the gas shutoff valve. In this case, if the gas shutoff valve is a gas shutoff valve such as that described in Patent Document 1, the foreign matter can adhere to the inclined surface on which the movable element rolls.

If a foreign object were to adhere to the inclined surface in this way, there was a possibility that the movement of the movable element would be restricted by the foreign object if the gas appliance were to tilt. As a result, even when the gas appliance was in a state where it should cut off the flow of gas, the movable element would be unable to move smoothly, and it would be impossible to cut off the flow of gas.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a gas shutoff valve that can shut off the flow of gas when the gas appliance is tilted, even if the gas being supplied contains foreign matter.

The gas cutoff valve of the present invention comprises:
A gas shutoff valve that shuts off the flow of gas in a gas supply path of a gas appliance when the attitude of the gas appliance is tilted to a predetermined attitude,
a valve housing interposed in the gas supply path;
a gas inlet chamber provided in the valve housing, into which gas supplied to the gas appliance flows;
a gas outlet chamber provided downstream of the gas inlet chamber of the valve housing and configured to allow gas to flow out of the valve housing;
a valve hole provided between the gas inlet chamber and the gas outlet chamber, the valve hole communicating the gas inlet chamber and the gas outlet chamber;
a cutoff mechanism provided inside the gas inflow chamber and configured to cut off gas flow through the valve hole,
the shutoff mechanism comprises a base, a movable element disposed on the base and movable in response to an inclination of the attitude of the gas appliance, and a valve body placed on the movable element and movable in response to the movement of the movable element from an open position at which the valve hole is opened to a closed position at which the valve hole is closed,
the base has an annular support portion that abuts against a lower surface of the movable member to support the movable member when the valve body is located at the open position, and a foreign object receiver having a recessed shape that is provided on an inner peripheral side of the support portion,
The support portion has a notched opening in the gas inflow chamber that connects a space outside the foreign object receptacle with a space inside the foreign object receptacle.

In this way, the base of the gas shutoff valve of the present invention supports the movable element with an annular support portion. A foreign object receiver is provided on the lower surface of the movable element. In the gas inflow chamber, the space outside the foreign object receiver and the space inside the foreign object receiver are connected by a notched opening provided in the support portion. Therefore, gas supplied to the gas inflow chamber also flows into the interior of the foreign object receiver through the opening.

As a result, even if foreign matter such as sand grains contained in the supplied gas reaches the base, the foreign matter will not remain on the top surface of the base, but will pass through the opening and reach the inside of the foreign matter receiver, where it will be stored. This prevents the foreign matter from adhering to the top surface of the base (i.e. the surface along which the mover moves).

Therefore, the gas shutoff valve of the present invention can prevent foreign matter contained in the supplied gas from adhering to the upper surface of the base, thereby preventing the movement of the movable element from being hindered by the foreign matter. As a result, when the gas appliance is tilted, the movable element can move smoothly, and the valve element placed on the movable element can also move smoothly to the closing position to close the valve hole, thereby cutting off the flow of gas.

In addition, in the gas cutoff valve of the present invention,
The mover is a sphere,
It is preferable that the surface of the base with which the movable element comes into contact is a mortar-shaped inclined surface.

This configuration allows foreign objects to easily roll down the inclined surface toward the foreign object receiver, and prevents foreign objects from adhering to the inclined upper surface of the base. This allows the spherical moving element to continue rolling along the inclined funnel surface when the gas appliance is tilted, and ensures that the valve element is pushed up and the valve hole is closed in response to the rolling of the moving element.

In addition, in the gas cutoff valve of the present invention,
It is preferable that the outer periphery of the pedestal protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the gas inlet chamber.

With this configuration, an opening can be easily formed by simply cutting out a portion of the outer periphery of the base that protrudes upward. Furthermore, the opening thus formed horizontally connects the internal space of the foreign object receiver to the space outside the foreign object receiver within the gas inflow chamber, making it easier to guide foreign objects into the foreign object receiver.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a gas appliance equipped with a gas cutoff valve according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the gas shutoff valve when the gas appliance is in a normal state. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the gas shutoff valve when the gas appliance is in an inclined state. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure around a base of the gas cutoff valve of FIG. 1 .

Below, we will explain the gas appliance G equipped with the gas shutoff valve 3 according to the embodiment, with reference to the drawings.

[Overall configuration of gas appliances]
First, the overall configuration of a gas appliance G will be described with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the gas appliance G, which is a radiant gas stove, a fan heater, a gas stove, or the like, includes a burner 1, a gas supply path 2 that supplies gas supplied from a gas supply source (not shown) to the burner 1, and a gas shutoff valve 3, a safety valve 4, a main valve 5 that is opened and closed by ignition and extinguishing operations, and a flow rate adjustment valve 6 that are interposed in the gas supply path 2.

The gas shutoff valve 3 has a plug 30a in its valve housing 30 (see Figures 2 and 3) that protrudes to the outside of the gas appliance G. Gas from a gas supply source (not shown) is supplied to the valve housing 30 (and thus to the gas supply path 2) through this plug 30a.

The gas appliance G also includes a flame detection sensor 7, such as a thermocouple or flame rod, located adjacent to the burner 1, and a controller 8 that closes the safety valve 4 in the event of a flame misfire based on a signal from the flame detection sensor 7.

[Configuration of gas shutoff valve]
Next, the configuration of the gas shutoff valve 3 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. This gas shutoff valve 3 is for shutting off the flow of gas in the gas supply path 2 of the gas appliance G when the gas appliance G is tilted.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the gas shutoff valve 3 includes a valve housing 30 disposed in the gas supply passage 2 (see Figure 1), a gas inlet chamber 31 disposed in the valve housing 30, a gas outlet chamber 32 disposed downstream of the gas inlet chamber 31 of the valve housing 30 and above the gas inlet chamber 31, a communication section 33 disposed between the gas inlet chamber 31 and the gas outlet chamber 32, and a shutoff mechanism 34 disposed inside the gas inlet chamber 31.

The communication section 33 has a valve hole 33a in its approximate center that connects the internal space of the gas inlet chamber 31 with the internal space of the gas outlet chamber 32. The peripheral portion of the valve hole 33a on the gas inlet chamber 31 side serves as a valve seat 33b against which the valve body 34c (described later) abuts when it moves to the closed position.

The shutoff mechanism 34 has a base 34a provided on the bottom surface of the gas inlet chamber 31, a movable element 34b that is placed on the base 34a and moves according to the inclination of the attitude of the gas appliance G, and a valve body 34c that is placed on the movable element 34b and moves according to the movement of the movable element 34b.

The surface of the base 34a against which the movable element 34b abuts is formed as a mortar-shaped inclined surface 34a1.

The movable member 34b is a sphere made of a hard material such as metal, and is capable of rolling inside the gas inlet chamber 31 depending on the position of the valve housing 30 (i.e., the gas appliance G to which the valve housing 30 is fixed).

Because the base 34a and the movable member 34b are configured in this way, when the gas appliance G is in an inclined position, the movable member 34b rolls up the inclined surface 34a1. As a result, the distance between the movable member 34b and the communication portion 33 (i.e., the valve hole 33a) located above it becomes closer.

The valve body 34c is a member that is placed on the movable element 34b, and is movable between an open position (see FIG. 2) in which the valve hole 33a is opened and a closed position (see FIG. 3) in which the valve body 34c abuts against the valve seat 33b and closes the valve hole 33a in response to the movement of the movable element 34b.

The valve body 34c is a member whose cross section is roughly T-shaped and upside down. The valve body 34c has a disk-shaped contact portion 34c1, a rod-shaped insertion portion 34c2 erected at the center of the surface of the contact portion 34c1 facing the gas outflow chamber 32, and an annular seal member 34c3 provided concentrically with the contact portion 34c1 on the gas outflow chamber 32 side of the contact portion 34c1.

The contact portion 34c1 contacts the movable member 34b on the surface opposite the sealing member 34c3. The insertion portion 34c2 passes through the valve hole 33a of the communication portion 33 and extends into the interior of the gas outflow chamber 32, and its tip is slidably inserted into the sliding hole 32a provided in the gas outflow chamber 32. The sealing member 34c3 is a rubber member.

When the gas appliance G is tilted and the movable element 34b moves, the valve element 34c is pushed up by the movable element 34b and guided by the sliding hole 32a to move upward. When the valve element 34c moves upward and the seal member 34c3 is pressed against the valve seat 33b, the valve hole 33a is sealed and closed (see FIG. 3).

In a gas appliance G equipped with such a shutoff mechanism 34, in normal use (hereinafter, this state will be referred to as the "normal state"), the movable element 34b of the shutoff mechanism 34 is located in the position shown in FIG. 2 (i.e., a position sufficiently distant from the valve body 34c and the valve seat 33b).

In its normal state, the gas supplied to the gas appliance G first flows into the gas inlet chamber 31 through the plug 30a (see FIG. 1) provided in the valve housing 30. The gas that flows into the gas inlet chamber 31 then flows into the gas outlet chamber 32 through the valve hole 33a. The gas that flows into the gas outlet chamber 32 then flows out of the gas outlet chamber 32 (i.e., the valve housing 30) into the gas supply path 2.

On the other hand, when the gas appliance G is tilted due to falling over or the like (hereinafter, this state will be referred to as the "tilted state"), the movable member 34b of the shutoff mechanism 34 moves to a position as shown in FIG. 3 (i.e., a position closer to the valve hole 33a than in the normal state) due to the tilt of the position.

In this tilted state, the movable element 34b, which has moved closer to the valve hole 33a, pushes up the valve body 34c, causing the seal member 34c3 of the valve body 34c to abut against the valve seat 33b and close the valve hole 33a. As a result, the gas that has flowed into the gas inflow chamber 31 cannot pass through the valve hole 33a, and the flow of gas in the gas supply path 2 is blocked.

In this embodiment, the movable member 34b on which the valve body 34c is placed is also movable so that the valve body 34c can be moved between the open position and the closed position. This is because the valve body 34c is configured to automatically return from the closed position to the open position when the position of the gas appliance G returns to the normal position.

The valve body 34c may be configured to be automatically movable only from the open position to the closed position, and may be moved manually from the closed position back to the open position.

[Base configuration]
Incidentally, a filter (not shown) is disposed upstream of the gas cutoff valve 3 in the gas supply passage 2, and the filter prevents foreign matter from entering the inside of the gas cutoff valve 3. However, depending on the usage environment of the gas appliance G, fine foreign matter (e.g., sand grains, etc.) may pass through the filter and enter the inside of the gas cutoff valve 3.

If the foreign matter that has entered in this way adheres to the base 34a, there is a possibility that the movement of the movable element 34b will be restricted by the foreign matter when the gas appliance G is tilted. As a result, even when the gas appliance G is in a state where the flow of gas should be blocked, the movable element 34b will not be able to move smoothly, and ultimately the valve body 34c placed on the movable element 34b will not be able to move smoothly to the closed position to block the valve hole 33a, and it may become impossible to block the flow of gas.

In gas appliance G, the structure of the base 34a that supports the movable element 34b of the gas shutoff valve 3 is devised to prevent foreign matter adhering to the base 34a from impeding the movement of the movable element 34b. The base 34a will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 2 to 4.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the pedestal 34a is formed integrally with the bottom plate 31a, which is a plate-shaped member that constitutes the bottom surface of the gas inlet chamber 31. The pedestal 34a is located approximately in the center of the bottom plate 31a. As a result, when the bottom plate 31a is attached to the housing portion 30b that constitutes the valve housing 30, the pedestal 34a is located in a position facing the valve hole 33a provided in the center of the communication portion 33.

The base 34a has a cone-shaped inclined surface 34a1 against which the movable element 34b abuts, sloping from the periphery toward the center, and a recessed foreign object receiver 34a2 is provided in the center.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the normal state, the movable element 34b placed on the base 34a is located at the radial center of the base 34a, and the valve body 34c placed on the movable element 34b is located at the open position (i.e., the position where the seal member 34c3 of the valve body 34c is separated from the valve seat 33b). At this time, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the lower side of the movable element 34b abuts against the annular support portion 34a3, which is the upper outer peripheral side of the inclined surface 34a1. In other words, in the normal state, the movable element 34b is supported by the support portion 34a3.

Here, the foreign object receiver 34a2 is provided in the center of the base 34a, and is therefore located on the inner periphery of the support portion 34a3. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, in the normal state, the foreign object receiver 34a2 is located below the movable element 34b, which is located in the radial center of the base 34a.

As shown in FIG. 4, the base 34a has notched openings 34a4 spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction on its outer periphery. The openings 34a4 are provided so as to divide the annular support portion 34a3.

As shown in FIG. 2, even in the normal state, the opening 34a4 connects the space outside the foreign object receiver 34a2 to the space inside the foreign object receiver 34a2 in the gas inflow chamber 31. Therefore, in the normal state, the gas supplied to the gas inflow chamber 31 flows through the opening 34a4 into the interior of the foreign object receiver 34a2 without being blocked by the movable element 34b supported by the base 34a.

As explained above, in gas appliance G, even if foreign matter such as sand grains contained in the gas supplied reaches the inclined surface 34a1, which is the upper surface of the base 34a, the foreign matter does not remain on the inclined surface 34a1, but passes through the opening 34a4 and reaches the inside of the foreign matter receiver 34a2, where it is stored. This prevents the foreign matter from adhering to the inclined surface 34a1.

This prevents foreign matter contained in the gas being supplied from adhering to the inclined surface 34a1, thereby preventing the movement of the movable element 34b from being hindered by foreign matter. As a result, when the gas appliance G is in a tilted position, the movable element 34b can move smoothly, and the valve element 34c placed on the movable element 34b can also move smoothly to the closed position to close the valve hole 33a, thereby blocking the flow of gas.

As described above with reference to FIG. 2, in the gas shutoff valve 3, the inclined surface 34a1, which is the upper surface of the base 34a, is in a cone shape that slopes from the periphery toward the center.

For this reason, foreign objects are easily received by the foreign object receiver 34a2 and roll down the inclined surface 34a1, and adhesion of foreign objects to the inclined surface 34a1 is suppressed. As a result, when the gas appliance G is inclined, the spherical movable member 34b is not prevented from rolling on the cone-shaped inclined surface 34a1, and the valve body 34c can be reliably pushed up and the valve hole 33a can be closed in response to the rolling of the movable member 34b.

Also, as shown in FIG. 2, in the gas shutoff valve 3, the outer peripheral portion of the base 34a protrudes upward from the bottom plate 31a.

Therefore, the opening 34a4 can be easily formed by simply cutting out a portion of the outer periphery of the pedestal 34a that protrudes upward. Furthermore, the opening 34a4 thus formed horizontally connects the internal space of the foreign object receiver 34a2 in the gas inflow chamber 31 with the space outside the foreign object receiver 34a2, making it easier to introduce foreign objects into the foreign object receiver 34a2.

However, the gas shutoff valve of the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the shape of the upper surface of the base may be any shape that includes, for example, a foreign object receiver provided on a horizontal surface, and a support portion with a notched opening. Also, the outer periphery of the inclined surface of the base may be formed at a height that matches the bottom surface of the gas inlet chamber, or at a position lower than the bottom surface. In that case, the opening may be cut out to a position lower than the support portion.

[Other embodiments]
Although the illustrated embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

For example, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the pedestal 34a is formed integrally with the bottom plate 31a, which is a plate-shaped member that constitutes the bottom surface of the gas inlet chamber 31. However, the pedestal of the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and may be any pedestal on which a movable element can be disposed. Therefore, for example, the pedestal and the bottom plate may be separate bodies.

For example, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a spherical member is used as the mover 34b. However, the mover of the present invention may be any member that moves in response to the inclination of the gas appliance. Therefore, the shape of the mover may be set appropriately depending on the shape of the base on which the mover is placed, etc.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, four notch-shaped openings 34a4 are provided. However, the openings of the present invention are not limited to this configuration, and it is sufficient that at least one opening is provided.

In the above embodiment, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, the notch-shaped opening 34a4 divides the annular support portion 34a3 and is shaped to reach from the inner peripheral surface of the foreign object receiver 34a2 to the outer peripheral surface of the base 34a. However, the opening of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and may be a notch-shaped opening that connects the space outside the foreign object receiver to the space inside the foreign object receiver within the gas inflow chamber.

Therefore, for example, the shape of the opening may be such that it divides the inclined surface (i.e., it reaches the outermost position of the mover in the normal state), but does not reach the outermost periphery of the base, and cuts out from the foreign object receiver to halfway up the inclined surface.

In the above embodiment, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the foreign object receiver 34a2 is provided in the center of the base 34a. However, the foreign object receiver of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and may be provided on the inner periphery of the support portion. Therefore, for example, the foreign object receiver may be located at a position offset from the center of the base.

1...burner, 2...gas supply passage, 3...gas shutoff valve, 4...safety valve, 5...main valve, 6...flow rate control valve, 7...flame detection sensor, 8...controller, 30...valve housing, 30a...plug, 30b...housing section, 31...gas inlet chamber, 31a...bottom plate, 32...gas outlet chamber, 32a...sliding hole, 33...communication section, 33a...valve hole, 33b...valve seat, 34...shutoff mechanism, 34a...base, 34a1...inclined surface, 34a2...foreign object receiver, 34a3...support section, 34a4...opening, 34b...movable element, 34c...valve body, 34c1...contact section, 34c2...insertion section, 34c3...sealing member, G...gas appliance.

Claims (3)

A gas shutoff valve that shuts off the flow of gas in a gas supply path of a gas appliance when the attitude of the gas appliance is tilted to a predetermined attitude,
a valve housing interposed in the gas supply path;
a gas inlet chamber provided in the valve housing, into which gas supplied to the gas appliance flows;
a gas outlet chamber provided downstream of the gas inlet chamber of the valve housing and configured to allow gas to flow out of the valve housing;
a valve hole provided between the gas inlet chamber and the gas outlet chamber, the valve hole communicating the gas inlet chamber and the gas outlet chamber;
a cutoff mechanism provided inside the gas inflow chamber and configured to cut off gas flow through the valve hole,
the shutoff mechanism comprises a base, a movable element disposed on the base and movable in response to an inclination of the attitude of the gas appliance, and a valve body placed on the movable element and movable in response to the movement of the movable element from an open position at which the valve hole is opened to a closed position at which the valve hole is closed,
the base has an annular support portion that abuts against a lower surface of the movable member to support the movable member when the valve body is located at the open position, and a foreign object receiver having a recessed shape that is provided on an inner peripheral side of the support portion,
A gas cut-off valve characterized in that the support portion has a notched opening within the gas inlet chamber that connects the space outside the foreign object receptacle with the space inside the foreign object receptacle. 2. The gas cutoff valve according to claim 1,
The mover is a sphere,
13. A gas cutoff valve, comprising: a surface of the base with which the movable element abuts, the surface being a mortar-shaped inclined surface. The gas cutoff valve according to claim 1 or 2,
A gas cutoff valve, characterized in that an outer periphery of the base protrudes upward from a bottom surface of the gas inlet chamber.

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